Colonel David Saunders

Gordon Highlander Born: May 1, 1931; Died: November 12, 2016. COLONEL David Saunders, who has died aged 85, was a dedicated and proud Gordon Highlander with a strong sense of duty and an upholder of the finest traditions of the regiment. He was both an inspiring and professional company commander and an excellent commanding officer at home and abroad – especially in Singapore where his expertise in jungle warfare ensured the battalion was well trained and battle-ready.

David Saunders was born in Northern Ireland and came from a distinguished military family. His father, Lt Col Roscoe Saunders commanded the 5/7th Gordons at El Alamein and was awarded the DSO. He attended Fernden prep school in Surrey and Wellington College, where he was a keen sportsman – especially at rugby, cricket and hockey. He was also an enthusiastic golfer from his youth and his love of all sports was to remain with him all his life.

In 1949, Col Saunders attended Sandhurst and in 1951 was commissioned into the 1st Bn The Gordon Highlanders – his father’s old regiment – serving in Malaya. He showed real courage during a sortie and was mentioned in dispatches and suffered a severe bout of malaria. On the trip back from Malaya in 1954, the ship sank but Col Saunders dived into the Mediterranean to recover his 21st birthday presents. As he recalled: “I jumped overboard, got wet and ended up in Algiers in my pyjamas.”

A tour on royal guard at Balmoral and parading at the Queen’s coronation was followed by posts in Edinburgh, Cyprus and as training company commander at Bridge of Don Depot, Aberdeen. He then commanded A Company, 1 Gordons in Borneo (1964/65).

In the early 1970s, Col Saunders returned to Malaya joining the 28 ANZUK Brigade to confront a communist insurgence. The conditions under which the battalion lived and operated were demanding in the extreme. The official Gordons records relate that “the ground was marshy and the coastline deeply indented with lagoons, inlets and rivers. Much of the land was unchartered and never been trod by man”.

Yet many of his fellow officers have simply described the tour of duty as “the most memorable” of their careers.

Col Saunders displayed powers of leadership throughout the three years in the jungle. He encouraged his men to make their own decisions, try new ideas and build good contacts with the local communities. He was always a modest and fair man. When, for example, the barracks was presented with gifts from local suppliers at Christmas time, Colonel Saunders insisted that all the gifts were immediately sent to local charities.

Many army colleagues recall with particular pleasure Colonel Saunders’ ability to encourage and support young cadets. One commented: “Lots of us became Gordons entirely because of his recruitment efforts.”

The Gordon Highlanders under Col Saunders left Singapore in 1976. His final posting was as garrison commander in Rheindahlen and he retired in 1984 to Ayrshire where he was, for a decade, an active secretary of the Lowland TA and served on the Regimental Council and Regimental Trust. He was a member of Prestwick Golf Club and supported the Garden Veterans Association.

He was a director of the Erskine Hospital – a care home for veterans. Andrew Robertson, Erskine’s chairman, said: “David was a resolute supporter of Erskine and he helped to see many changes implicated. He continued our long-standing connection with the Gordons and proved an excellent sounding-board. David was quiet, caring and a very compassionate man.”

In 1962 he married Sue who, with their two sons, survives him.